Connector-oriented workflow system for the support of structured ad hoc workflow

In large scale enterprises composed of more than several hundred departments, many workflows still remain in a non-automated state which is a serious burden to the enterprises. Usually workflow of a large scale enterprise is in the mixed form of multiple types of workflow where ad hoc workflow is the major hurdle for the automation. While conventional workflow systems support a certain type of workflow well, it does not get along with a mixed type of workflow. We classify ad hoc workflow into structured and inherently ad hoc workflow and propose a workflow system equipped with a connector facility to support structured ad hoc workflow such as a decision approval process. The connector facility can be regarded as a semi-workflow system to support structured ad hoc workflow effectively or it can be a subsidiary facility for a workflow system to enforce the support of the structured ad hoc workflow in the base workflow system. We are implementing it in Hanuri/TFlow, our distributed transactional workflow system and the details of the connector-oriented extensions to the system are described.